A former administrator of Morehouse College is suing the institution for lifetime retirement benefits he claims were promised after he served as acting president of the institution two decades ago.
Wiley Perdue filed the lawsuit last week in Fulton County Superior Court seeking a jury trial. The suit alleges that the college's board of trustees agreed in 1996 to pay Perdue a monthly retirement benefit for the remainder of his life. A year later the board persuaded him to sign a 1997 agreement that allowed annual reviews of the benefit, arguing at the time that it was necessary for tax purposes.
But in August, Morehouse’s current board notified Perdue that the college would end the payments at the end of 2014.
“By ceasing Dr. Perdue’s monthly retirement benefits in the last years of his life, defendants would violate their duties to Perdue and breach of their enforceable promise not to do so – all to save the college $68,754 per year,” Perdue’s attorney Leighton Moore, wrote in the suit.
A Morehouse spokeswoman and Moore did not respond to requests for comment on Tuesday. A phone number listed for Perdue was out of service.
Perdue, a 1957 Morehouse graduate, rose through the administrative ranks of the college, becoming the vice president of business and finance before almost a year-long stint as acting president in 1994.
He led the university during the tumultuous time from Oct. 1, 1994 to Aug. 13, 1995, between the tenures of presidents Leroy Keith and Walter Massey. According to news reports, Keith resigned after a financial audit found that his fringe benefits could jeopardize the school’s tax status. The audit and resignation also led to upheaval on the college’s governing board of trustees.
During that time Morehouse was also rebounding from the deaths of three students who were killed in off-campus incidents. Information on Morehouse’s website notes that Wiley also launched an initiative to upgrade the school’s computer information systems, finalized plans to build a dorm and led the college through construction of a 5,700-seat gymnasium that served as a basketball venue for the 1996 Summer Olympic Games.
“When Morehouse needed him most, Dr. Perdue rose to the occasion and led the college through a challenging transition,” the suit reads. “Now, when Dr. Perdue most needs Morehouse to keep its word and abide by its principles of loyalty and integrity, the college and its board of trustees have deserted him for their short-term financial gain.”
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